In the 1901 census, Henry was shown living at 8 Thackery Road, Portswood, with his parents Henry (b.1871, Bishops Waltham) and Elizabeth (b.1875, North Stoneham). His father was a journeyman bricklayer.

According to his service records, Henry Butler, aged 18, of 48 Highcrown Street, Highfield, joined the Royal Garrison Artillery at Southampton in April 1916 having enlisted in February 1916. Information in his enlistment documents show that he was 6ft 4 inches tall, a bricklayer, unmarried, his religion was Church of England and his father Henry was his next of kin.

He served with the 139th Heavy Battery as a Gunner (number 73437). On 3rd November 1916 he left Southampton with the 174th Heavy Battery, landing at Le Havre on the 5th. On the 8th he joined the 176th Heavy Battery in the field. He was wounded during the German Spring Offensive and died of his wounds on 5th April 1918.

Following his death, his father requested his personal effects and they were forwarded in August 1918. His personal items were listed as including letters, photos, cards, metal watch & chain, 2 pipes, metal cigarette case, religious books, diary and wallet.Military documents from 1919, show his living relatives to be his father Henry, mother Elizabeth, 3 brothers; Albert (17), William (15) and Percy (5), 2 sisters; Emma (11) and Elsie (9), and grandmother Jane Marsh, a widow living at the Good Intent, Pound Street, Shirley, Southampton.

Comments:[ .. ] imply the information cannot be read on the stone and was found using another source ? represents a missing word, letter, number or phraseBirth, Marriage & Death records obtained from Freebmd.org.uk. For war dead the burial information was obtained from CWGC.org